Two Nigerians reach finals of $100,000 innovation challenge

Two Nigerians have reached the final rounds of the 2017 Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) competition.

The finals of the challenge, which is themed ‘African Innovation: Investing in Prosperity’, will hold in Accra, Ghana, on July 18.

Innovators from nine African countries including Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Kenya, Liberia, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe were shortlisted.

Some of the solutions submitted addressed challenges in agriculture value chain, healthcare, energy, communications, service industries as well as surveillance using drone technology.

Olanisun Adewale developed a sweat tuberculosis test, a non-invasive rapid diagnostic test to detect tuberculosis.

Sweat TB test leverages on TB specific marker in sweat of patients, to produce a point- of- care test to detect TB, within ten minutes, without any needle prick.

Omolabake Adenle (pictured) developed a voice recognition and speech synthesis software for African languages.

The software solution can understand and digitise spoken African languages, and synthesise speech from African languages presented as digitised text.

“We are pleased to share with you the names of our IPA2017 nominees as we continue on our mission to catalyse the innovation spirit and unlock untapped potential in Africa,” Walter Fust, AIF board chairman said in a statement.

“For the first time, this year’s nominees include innovators from Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia and Zimbabwe.

“Moreover, given the instrumental role African women play in transforming Africa, it is thrilling to see more women among the 10 nominees with game changing innovations.

“By providing platforms to recognise innovation excellence in Africa and mobilising for African innovators, we continue to live up to our credo of engaging, inspiring and transforming.

“The inspiring stories of these nominees remind us that innovation and African-led solutions are indeed the answer to Africa’s growth and prosperity.”

President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana has been scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the awards ceremony.

The winner will get a grand prize of $100,000. There is a second prize of $25 000; a special prize for social impact, $25 000; a voucher for each of the seven IPA nominees of $5 000 and additional incentives including investment opportunities and training.